Tough Questions for the GOC, TOC, ROAC, ROCiE, etc.

[Lounger]

I am neither Arthur Schopenhauer (whom I quote in my siggy file) nor the original author of this message. I only brought it here for answers, which I feel the statement needed and still could use more responses to. A defense to someone's words should always be easy to provide if you are correct and true.

[Lounger]

Here's some pro-ROAC list cut and pastings:

A very informative web site to learn about Orthodoxy in the contemporary world is the www.roacamerica.org site. They have just added more pages on The Kiss of Judas section.

Bishop Gregory, who stands for the truth, who obeys his vows to reprove and call back to the Church the heretics and schismatics, who maintains the bond of love with his fellow hierarchs assiduously, who is a man of prayer, a pillar of patience, a lover of God, a tireless worker in the vineyard of our Saviour, a truly zealous bishop who will bring the true Faith to anyone, on any continent, who is desirous of that Faith. That is why our Metropolitan Valentine specifically told Bishop Gregory that he has the authority to open churches anywhere outside of his diocese, save where a bishop of our Church resides. Metropolitan Valentine knew that bestowing such a responsibility on Bishop Gregory would not be in vain. Vladyka's recent trips to Korea and Bulgaria show this, and there are more seeking souls reaching out to ROAC in the remote corners of the earth whom Bishop Gregory plans to visit this year. But all these things are what we expect from our hierarchs, and nothing more. That is why Vladyka considers himself to be the unprofitable servant, doing only what was appointed to him.

[Protopriest Dionysi]

A defense to someone's words should always be easy to provide if you are correct and true.

Yes, I agree. This is why whoever wote the article you posted could not provide the article that showed ROCOR was going to "retire" Vladyka Valentine.

[Lounger]

OOD, does this quote from Met. Pavlos mean that he is a Kyprianist?

"In my conscience I belong to the Ecumenical Patriarchate and to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.. I identify myself totally with his course, and I am aware that these words shall cost me. But it doesn't concern me, because I believe in the truth."

"At Saint Markella's thousands of our Greek people attend services. But I have a problem of conscience because they are the spiritual children of Bartholomew, all of them. They belong to the Church of Bartholomew. I belong to the Church of Chrysostom who has specifically stated that we are not to provide the mysteries to those who follow the new calendar. Yet I provide the mysteries to the followers of the new calendar."

"We need humility, repentance, and to return to the Mother Church."

(This quotation is taken from an interview given by Theodore Kalmoukas of the National Herald, which was printed in that paper's issue of Tuesday, May 24, 1994.)

[OrthodoxyOrDeath]

It means much worse!

The interview you are qouting from is no secret. It was a very sad, sad event which scandalized many people.

Thanks be to God that Met. PAVLOS publicly repented in word and in writing, before the Holy Synod, and to the flock. The written confession was published by the Holy Synod. And having recently spent a few days at the monastery with him, I can say he is quite clear about his Orthodoxy. In addition, our own local church asked him to appear before the people to be questioned and asked for his confession of faith, which was given.

Unfortunatley, there are still those who walk around claiming he is an ecumenist. How sad that these same people pray each day that the "Lord forgive them as they forgive others"! I wonder if those same people have forgiven St. Peter for denying the Lord Himself?

When the prodigal son returned home, the father slayed the fatten calf, put his best robe on him, and celebrated. He said, "for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost, and is found." But the image of the elder son reveals the theme of envy, self­conceit, legalism and how one can be outwardly perfect but inwardly hateful and resentful.

[Methodius]

OOD, is his repentance online anywhere?

[OrthodoxyOrDeath]

Not that I'm aware of. It was published in Greek, in Greece, along with a retraction to the newspaper he gave the original interview with. It seems we are not as resourceful as the "elder" brothers of the prodigal son.

I've seen it, and I'm sure it could be made available to any sincere inquirers by contacting the metropolis in NY. Also, Bishop Photios of Marathon often receives inquiries to the "webmaster" at ecclesiagoc.gr - you might try him to.